While shopping in Salvation Army yesterday, I came across an adorable tie-dye t-shirt in the kids section that read "Peace Love & Koalas - Cleveland Metroparks Zoo". Of course it was way too small to fit me in it's original form, I brought it home and grabbed a pair of underwear that fit (didn't bother cutting them up as they're fairly new) and traced a pattern from them on some newspaper. After placing the patterns how I wanted them I cut out the general shape, once I seamed everything I grabbed some black micro stretchknit from my stash and cut enough for the waist and leg bands. I didn't bother using any elastic as the knit provides enough stretch without becoming too loose. I would have liked to have serged all the seams for a cleaner finish but trying to thread my serger with woolly nylon thread was proving to be too much of a pain so I used my sewing machine instead and put it on the stretch knit stitch. They're not perfect, but all in all I'm pretty pleased. It's the first pair of underwear that I've made for myself that actually fit! Now if only I had time to make more...

This bag is the same pattern that I've used in previous bags. My aunt had seen my geisha bag that I had made in June and absolutely raved over it. I decided for her birthday I would make her a bag since she loved mine.

This not so little clutch was made on a night where my insomnia was in over drive. I worked on it til 2:30 in the morning went to bed and woke up at 7:45am to finish it before working a 13 hour shift. It wasn't the most cooperative bag to say the least. I thought the top stitching was going to be the death of me! I'm not completely thrilled with how it turned out, but here it is none the less. Please note in the second picture the size comparison with a can of ginger ale.

Work has been keeping me away from my sewing room lately, but I have managed to squeeze a few days (and insomnia induced nights) in here and there when I can crank out some new recons.

Here is a Social Distortion T that I just bought tonight at HT. It's a youth LG which usually fits length-wise but rarely width-wise. I cut the neck so that it was a boat-neck but did it a little too much so now it's a bit off the shoulder. I also cut the back apart and serged it back together at the very top and bottom with a little casing covering where the seams are. I also took it in on the sides just a touch for a more fitted look in the front:

This hoodie is inspired from UO's urban renewal flannel shirt/hoodie that they want $70 for. I decided I would make my own by using an old hoodie that I had laying around and a boys X-lg flannel shirt that I bought at goodwill for $2. I cut the flannel shirt so that it was all one length on the bottom and then folded it and sewed it just above the ribbing on the bottom of the hoodie. I also removed the zipper on the hoodie and folded the raw edges over and sewed them to the flannel shirt so it now buttons instead of zips. I'm still debating on cutting the cuffs off of the sleeves of the shirt and folding them and sewing them so that the ribbed hoodie cuff shows.... Which do you think would be better?

This shirt was originally a nightie that I bought for $2 that went below my knees. I simply cut the length and re-hemmed it. It cam be worn with a belt for a more fitted look or without or if I decide to have kids in 5 years I can wear it as a maternity top:

So yesterday at Goodwill I managed to score a lamp, small book case, and a computer chair all for under $20. I didn't like the fabric on the computer chair, but it was exactly what I was looking for otherwise. I decided to recover it with black/silver glittery vinyl. I also had to replace the plastic handle piece end that makes it go up and down because whoever owned it before's dog decided to chomp it to death. I apologize for the crappy cell phone pics, but it was 2 in the morning and I didn't feel like running downstairs to grab my camera.

Behold, before:

and after:

The only thing that's wrong with it now is the bottom left corner of the plastic on the backrest is cracked and partially missing. You can't tell though so I don't mind. I also replaced the plastic lever end with a wooden bead painted pink but I couldn't get a good picture of it.

So I bought this adorable shirt at Salvation Army on Half off Everything except green tag day for $.50. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and then.....I saw the one thing I dreaded.....A stain. It was a bit off center so I had to think of a creative way to cover it. I took wide lace hem facing and cut the shirt straight up the center of the stain and notched it at the top. I then finished the rough edges so it wouldn't fray and then folded the edges and sewed the lace to it. Voila! fixed the stain and made it even more unique. I think the fact that its a bit off center works because the buttons on the top panel are off center.

I made this dress a couple of months ago. It was originally a kids large long sleeved t shirt. I decided that I didn't want to wear it as a shirt but rather a halter dress. I ended up cutting the back a bit too low which caused my bra to show hardcore so I had to remedy that situation. I added 2 long ties in the back to cover where my bra is (somewhat). I also added pockets with little bows on them and a ruffly skirt on the bottom from another kids t shirt that I had in my stash. I put snaps in the halter tie so that it snaps instead of ties behind my neck. It is a bit short though....I usually have to wear it with either jeans or a pair of leggings underneath if I don't want my booty showing.

So I've been fiddling around with different techniques in terms of screen printing and stenciling lately. I've also been going to Salvation Army and buying old slips. I stenciled (the mod podge way) an anatomical heart onto this one as well as took it in a bit. It was a bit big on me in the chest area so it would have looked a bit awkward had I not...Enjoy!

8.13 I added a new pic of how to wear the slip! It can be worn over jeans and then bunched or gathered up around the waist and secured with a belt. I think its a cute and classy way to get away with wearing a slip in public.

I made this bag about a week ago. It's pretty huge! I'm 5'5 so the pic of me holding it should show how huge it is. I added 1 large pocket, another big pocket that I divided so that I had a sunglasses pocket and a detachable pouch for " woman stuff". Also has magnetic snaps.

I made this clutch yesterday for a friend of mine who is moving to Chicago next month. She told me she wanted a clutch and left the design and fabric options up to me. I used magnetic snaps to keep it shut and a detatchable bow made of the lining fabric. Gizmo modeling it for me.

I've been sewing for about the past 6 years and only recently have started using pre-made patterns. Most of the sewing I do usually involves my tailoring shirts so they fit me.

My recent conquest involves me making 3 different bags from see & sew pattern B4645. I really enjoy making these because they're very straight forward. The only trouble I've had so far is when I'm sewing the fabric around the bamboo handles it's nearly impossible to sew a straight line so there's just a few stitches that jumped a bit here and there.

Each of the bags are fully lined and have a large pocket on the inside. They are all made out of 100% cotton and also have a layer of heavy weight interfacing in between the layers of fabric.

They're large which is great since I tend to carry everything but the kitchen sink with me at all times.